News & Information

You are cordially invited to attend our first Safety Training Session for Facilities Professionals! This 3 hour program goal is to provide attendees insights into current regulations and best practices on a series of topics to keep you up to date. Our first session is Renovations and Demolition –Asbestos Safety and the New Lead Rule. What all Facilities Professionals Should Know! This presentation will discuss asbestos exposures, the roles of the asbestos consultant in facilities management, and the industrial hygienist in asbestos management. Knowing each other’s role and responsibilities is necessary for the Facility Engineer/Manager to protect occupants and owners.

Topics include:

Asbestos exposure routes and mechanisms
Management of asbestos in building systems
In-house activities versus asbestos consultant/contractor activities - examples
Non-building related asbestos exposures

Guest Speaker: John C. Smyth, Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), holds a Master of Science in Public Health degree specializing in Industrial Hygiene and Safety Management, and a Doctorate in Industrial Hygiene. A consultant with Environmental Consulting & Technology Inc., Dr. Smyth has twenty years of experience in Environmental, Health, and Safety management. He is a Diplomate of the Academy of Industrial Hygiene, a member of the American Chemical Society, and a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association. He is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the USF College of Public Health Regulatory Updates will be provided by Joan D. Spencer, Compliance Assistance Specialist, Region IV, Tampa.

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Time: 11am to 2pm
Meal: Sandwiches and drinks
Price: No Charge!
Credits: 0.3 CEUs by AFE

Place: Highwoods Properties, Suite 300, Lake Pointe II Office Bldg., 3111 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Tampa, FL 33607

Event Flyer (pdf)

OSHA invites interested parties to participate in informal stakeholder meetings on the workplace hazards of combustible dust. OSHA plans to use the information gathered at these meetings in developing a proposed standard for combustible dust. Dates and locations for the stakeholder meetings are:

April 21, 2010, at 9 a.m., in Chicago, IL.
April 21, 2010, at 1:30 p.m., in Chicago, IL.

Deadline for confirmed registration at the meetings is April 7, 2010.

The Back School of Atlanta (Dr. Ron Porter was a speaker at our November 2009 Ergonomics Conference) is offering a Functional Employment Testing course in Tampa on April 17th and 18th. Functional Employment Testing is a method to assist prospective employers in hiring, selecting and maintaining worker fitness for the job. Learn how to develop and perform functional Employment Testing in a standard clinical environment with a minimum investment in testing equipment. This two-day workshop instructs participants in how to identify a job's essential functions, as well as how to evaluate & document a new hire's performance in those functions. For more info or to register, see www.backschoolofatlanta.com.

Event Flyer (pdf)

The 2010 ACFS Safety Day at Walt Disney World Thursday March 4th is fast approaching and we would like to see you there! Participant and vendor registration is now OPEN! Registration is free, but pre-registration is required. Register at allianceforcentralfloridasafety.com.

Free Safety Training Video for Temporary Workers Raises Workplace Safety Awareness

Temporary workers could benefit from a new video that provides occupational safety and health training. The video includes a general safety orientation and six modules focusing on indentifying hazards at construction, landscaping, manufacturing and food distribution sites, warehouses and offices. It is a product of an alliance among OSHA's Columbus, Ohio, Area Office, the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, OSHA On-site Consultation, Staffmart, and the Ohio Staffing and Search Association.

NFPA Recognition

NFPA wants to recognize people in your community who have put their fire safety knowledge into action. See http://ow.ly/15NFby for more information on how to nominate someone.

2010 Region IV Professional Development Conference

March 25-26, 2010 - Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The mission of the conference is to provide a first-class event for safety professionals to learn about key issues, prepare for upcoming challenges and improve their professional skills and knowledge. See http://region4.asse.org/pdc.php for more info and updates.

CSX Launches Free Interactive Training for First Responders

CSX recently launched a free, online training program to educate emergency personnel on how to safely respond to incidents on and around railroad property and equipment. The site is the first of its kind launched by a U.S. railroad for this audience.

CSXSAFE offers participants the opportunity to gain an understanding of how railroads operate, including some of the hazards of working around the rails and necessary protocols to keep responders safe. This web-based program takes less than an hour to complete, and is intended to provide important information to public agency personnel in fire and police departments, rescue and emergency medical organizations. Go to http://www.csxsafe.com.

NIH to Classify Formaldehyde as a "Known Human Carcinogen"

On November 4, a ten-member, independent, scientific expert panel convened by the NTP voted unanimously to list formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen in the upcoming 12th Edition of the Report on Carcinogens (RoC). Currently, formaldehyde is listed in the 11th RoC as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen. The vote came after three days of presentations, public comments, and lengthy discussions of the body of literature on this widely used chemical.

The expert panel's peer review comments on the draft background document, listing recommendation, and scientific justification are now available on the RoC website (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/29682). The NTP invites public comment on the recommendation and scientific justification for the recommendations (74 FR 62317). Comments should be sent to the RoC Center (see contact information below) by February 8, 2010. The NTP will finalize the background document, taking into consideration the panel's recommended edits and public comments on the draft document. Next steps in the review process include additional internal government review followed by preparation of the draft substance profile containing the NTP's listing recommendation for formaldehyde in the 12th RoC and the scientific information supporting the recommendation. The draft substance profile is tentatively scheduled for peer review at the June meeting of the NTP Board of Scientific Counselors.

Contact Information: Dr. Ruth M. Lunn, Report on Carcinogens Office, NIH/NIEHS, P.O. Box 12233, MD K2-14, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709; T: (919) 316-4637; FAX: (919) 541-0144; lunn@niehs.nih.gov

Please join the USC and Joan Spencer (OSHA Compliance Assistance Specialist), as she helps employers define workplace violence, the measures to help prevent it and what OSHA looks at during a workplace violence incident inspection. The FREE presentation will be workplace violence prevention plan workshop, so bring your plan or policies for comparisons to those preventative measures that will be discussed. To register, call 407-897-4443 or email Terri Cate at OccAsst@floridasafety.org.

Health Issues in Construction – Hosted by Associated Builders and Contractors Gulf Coast Chapter

This FREE workshop on March 12, 2010 from 1:30 – 3:30 PM is a must for anyone concerned about health and safety on the job including managers concerned about liability and workers’ compensation costs and employees who want to learn proper techniques for protecting their safety and health at work. The course will help educate and make the construction manager and worker aware of some typical occupational health hazards and their potential health effects that are associated with the construction industry. The presentation is designed to give attendees an overview of the basics of industrial hygiene, typical IH calculations, as well as specific health issues. Topics covered include lead, silica, cadmium, isocyanates, hexavalent chromium, noise and asbestos. Students will be able to recognize potential problems with exposures and how to protect themselves.

The workshop will be held at the ABC Office, 2008 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa 33607. Space is limited. If you would like to register or need more information, please contact April Hatfield, Education Assistant for ABC at 813-879-8064 or email to aprilhatfield@abcflgulf.org. You can also register online at www.abcflgulf.org.

Participants will learn about anatomy and understanding musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs)
Risk factors leading to MSIs
Risk assessment and prevention of MSIs

ASSE will celebrate its 100th anniversary on October 14, 2011. But WISE - Women in Safety Engineering is working now to commemorate this momentous occasion. We will honor 100 women who have, or are currently, making a difference through their work and dedication to protecting people, property and the environment.

In October 2009 WISE have began honoring up to four women in our monthly Newsletter, and we will continue to do so until October 2011. Then in October 2011, WISE will consolidate the profiles of those 100 dedicated women into a single publication, 100 Women – Making a Difference in Safety, and will début it at the 2011 ASSE Leadership Conference.

WISE plans to honor women throughout the ages who dedicate their lives to making a difference in the lives of other through their promotion and innovation in safety, health and environmental issues. The honorees will not all be ASSE members. And some paved the way long before ASSE was even founded, like Rebecca Luken who made a difference in manufacturing safety in the 1800’s. While others nominees, such as Trish Ennis and Terry Wigfall are ASSE members making a difference today. Our honorees will be diverse. They won’t all be public figures, well known, or famous; they will be everyday heroes making a difference in the lives of others through their commitment to protecting people, property and the environment.

Join us in our efforts to honor the women you know who are making, or have made, a difference by nominating them for this honor. Complete the nomination form below and send it to Terrie Norris at tsnorris@earthlink.net. The nomination form is also available on our web site at http://www.asse.org/practicespecialties/wise/. You will find the link to the nomination form by clicking on “100 Women Project” listed near the bottom of the column on the left side of the page.

If you would like to join us in this exciting project or to find out more information, please contact:

Kelly Bernish - kelly.a.bernish@disney.com
Jennifer Zipeto - jzipeto@gmail.com
Terrie Norris - tsnorris@earthlink.net
Deb McDaniel - mcdanied@kochind.com
Maureen Johnson - maureenj@us.ibm.com

FL AIHA Spring Conference

Mark your calendars for April 29 through April 30 for the upcoming FL AIHA Spring Conference with a golf tournament on April 28. The conference will be in Hutchinson Island. For more info, see http://www.aiha.org/LocalSections/html/florida/conference.html.

ASSE Forms Two New Specialties; Recognizes COHN-S Credentials

Due to growth and interest in agriculture and utilities workplace safety, ASSE recently announced the formation of two new practice specialty branches, the Agricultural Branch, part of ASSE’s Environmental Practice Specialty (PS) and the Utilities Branch, part of ASSE’s Construction PS.

To help address hazards posed by agricultural work, the new ASSE Agricultural Branch will provide a forum for safety, health and environmental (SH&E) professionals in the agricultural industry to network and gain knowledge regarding best practices in safety and health issues affecting agricultural production operations of all sizes; including seed production, agricultural chemicals, transportation, equipment safety, compliance and enforcement.

ASSE’s Utilities Branch will address SH&E issues within electrical, solar and wind generation, natural gas production and distribution, water/wastewater, telecommunications, public works and other utility areas.

Until new branch officers are selected, ASSE Environmental PS Administrator Judy Freeman will serve as the Agricultural Branch chair and Construction PS Administrator Michael Hayslip, P.E., CSP, will serve as the Utilities Branch chair. Freeman is the special project manager for Gabriel Environmental Services and Hayslip is an executive director at VPPAC.org. For more information, see www.asse.org/practicespecialties.

ASSE also announced it will now be accepting the Certified Occupational Health Nurse (COHN-S) credential for members and new member applicants who have a bachelor’s degree and five years of safety, health and environmental (SH&E) experience for ‘Professional Membership’. Professional membership is the highest membership category in ASSE.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Certified Agroterrorism Courses

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Agricultural Emergency Preparedness is once again partnering with the Western Institute of Food Safety and Security (WIFSS) to bring Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Certified Agroterrorism Courses to Florida.

All courses are free of charge with lunch provided, thanks to a DHS grant through WIFSS. Additional sponsoring partners include the Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS-Extension), the Florida Department of Health, and the Regional Domestic Security Task Forces.

Courses to be offered for February and March 2010 include:

AWR-153 Principles of Detection and Diagnosis: Strategies and Technologies

Tuesday, February 2 in Gainesville, FL, AWR 153 Principles of Detection and Diagnosis: Strategies and Technologies, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the USDA Farm Service Agency, 4401 NW 25th Place, Suite M, Gainesville, FL 32606
Wednesday, February 3 in Orlando, FL, AWR 153 Principles of Detection and Diagnosis: Strategies and Technologies, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Central Operations Center, Mel Martinez Auditorium, 2500 W. Colonial Drive, Orlando, FL 32804
Wednesday, March 3 in Miami, FL, AWR 153 Principles of Detection and Diagnosis: Strategies and Technologies, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Miami Regional Operations Center, 1030 NW 111th Avenue, Miami, FL 33172

AWR-154 Principles of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Team Building, and Risk Communication

Thursday, March 4 in Homestead, FL, AWR 154 Principles of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Team Building, and Risk Communication, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Miami-Dade County Extension Office, Agricultural Center, 18710 SW 288th Street, Homestead, FL 33030
Tuesday, March 30, in West Palm Beach, FL, AWR 154 Principles of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Team Building, and Risk Communication,, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Palm Beach County, Division of Emergency Management, 20 South Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33415
Wednesday, March 31 in Davie, FL, AWR 154 Principles of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Team Building, and Risk Communication, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Institute of Public Safety (Building 22, Room 155) Broward College Central Campus, 3501 SW Davie Rd, Davie, FL 33314

To register for a course, or to get more detailed information on each of the courses offered, please go to the WIFSS website at:

Please contact John Terry at 850-410-6756 or terryj1@doacs.state.fl.us if you have any questions.

Free AgriSafe Educational Webinars

Please join AgriSafe this spring for a series of great educational webinars. No Cost to Attend.

January 28, 2010 – 12-1pm CDT
Topic: Farmworkers and Influenza: Planning for their health and safety during outbreaks
Presenter: Andrea Steege, PhD, MPH, Epidemiologist, NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Session Link: http://uiowa.na5.acrobat.com/asteege/

February 25, 2010 – 12-1pm CDT
Topic: Musculoskeletal Injuries
Presenter: Scott Fraser, Agricultural Health and Safety Specialist, Farm and Ranch Safety and Health Association, British Columbia
Session link: http://uiowa.na5.acrobat.com/sfraser

March 16, 2010 – 12-1pm CT
Topic: What’s New in Diabetes Research and Care
Presenter: Martha Funnell, MS, RN, CDE, Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Center for the Study of Complications in Diabetes

April 28, 2010 – 12-1pm CT
Title: First Aid for Farm Families: Using Interactive Learning Modules to Improve Emergency Preparedness
Presenter: Ann Carruth, RN, DNS, Professor, School of Nursing, Southeastern Louisiana University

May 12, 2010 – 12-1pm CT
Topic: National AHEC Organization
Presenter: Kelly Withy, MD, PhD, Director, Hawaii/Pacific AHEC, Board Member, National AHEC Organization

June 17, 2010 – 12-1pm CT
Topic: The Agricultural Health Study
Presenter: Laura Beane Freeman, PhD, Investigator, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute

For the most up-to-date information and further details on how to join the webinars, please go to www.agrisafe.org/training/webinars.

Farm Hazard Analysis Website

If you are looking for an “easy to use – easy to understand” method for determining the level of hazard at many work locations on your farm, or at your rural business operation, the new FARM-HAT Website is for you! FARM-HAT, or The Farm/Agriculture/Rural/Management – Hazard Analysis Tool Website includes 11 category groups relating to a host of topics ranging from agricultural machinery and equipment through animals and livestock, buildings and facilities, off-road vehicles and agri-retail and agritourism. It is easy to access through your home or office computer and can be used at your leisure to conduct a quick audit of hazards. It includes a simple audit process for evaluating hazards and provides guidance for correcting hazards.

Click here www.agsafety.psu.edu/farmhat and then go to the upper left hand prompt “FARM-HAT User Guide” to take advantage of our site tour. Once you become familiar with all of the audit materials and information, you are ready to conduct your own safety audit and began correcting hazards that put your family, workers, livestock and community at risk.

Suggestions for improving the Website are also welcome and can easily be accomplished by clicking on the User Feedback form on the home page of the FARM-HAT Website. If you have problems accessing the FARM-HAT information, please contact Dr. Dennis J. Murphy (djm13@psu.edu) or Dr. Sam Steel (jss13@psu.edu) at Penn State and let us help you resolve them.

1st Quarter 2010 Workers' Comp & Workplace Safety Seminar Schedule Announced

The Division of Workers' Compensation is pleased to announce the Workers' Compensation and Workplace Safety Seminar schedule for the first quarter of 2010.

Please find a copy of the schedule and registration form attached.

It is our desire to reach as many employers as possible in the State of Florida with this information, and invite you to publish this schedule and other information about the seminars in your newsletters. We also want to encourage you to spread the word about these free seminars to other business owners. If you have had the opportunity to attend one of these sessions, we thank you and trust that you have found the information to be useful in your business.

Contact Sheryle Birdsong at sheryle.birdsong@myfloridacfo.com or call 813.221.6518 with questions.

Workshop Flyer (doc)
Registration Form (doc)

Watch It! Safety and Health Videos on YouTube

YouTube is just one of the many ways the department is utilizing social media to educate workers about health and safety issues. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently posted two new videos on DOL's channel to ensure proper safety equipment use. The videos review the significant differences between respirators and surgical masks, an important distinction for employees and employers to understand, and also illustrates the correct procedure for donning and doffing a respirator to protect against airborne contaminants in the workplace. Watch the Videos

Coffee Break Training from the U.S. Fire Administration

Tomorrow marks the 10th anniversary of the cold storage warehouse fire in Worcester, Massachusetts, where six firefighters died searching for reported victims.

In honor of the Worcester firefighters, and all other men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty, the National Fire Academy today offers a new Coffee Break Training special feature: Coffee Break Training - Special Blend. Throughout the year, on the anniversary of multiple firefighter fatality events, we will publish a special Coffee Break Training to recognize their sacrifices and provide tips to prevent a reoccurence of the tragedy.

So tomorrow, to honor those six firefighters, why not take the tips from this Special Blend and make some improvements in your community that will make all first responders safer? The Special Blend can be found at http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/sb_2009_1203.pdf.

Thanks, also, to Ron Kanterman of the National Fire Academy Alumni Association for suggesting the name "Special Blend."

FREE Harwood Grant Training Presentations

OSHA's Susan Harwood Training Grant program hands out millions of dollars each year to organizations in order for them to train workers. Well, we also get to take advantage of these grants even if we do not attend any of the training. OSHA has posted all the work done via these grants here: http://www.osha.gov/dte/sharwood/training_grants_by_topic.html.

Teenage Girl Shares Story About Having Her Arm Wrapped Around the PTO

Her jacket is torn; her Mustang Track and Field sweat shirt is shredded and bloody. But Kristi Ruth still has her arm, and it still works -- sort of. This Iowa 4-Her and (now) farm safety advocate is a farm injury survivor. Kristi tells a story of courage about her recovery from a PTO entanglement. A new DVD, My Name Is Kristi: A Farm Safety Story, produced by Iowa State University Extension that tells the story of Kristi's injury and her courageous recovery can be viewed on-line. This is a great ‘first-person’ story that helps drive home the need for safety and that it ‘can happen to me’.

BeFireSmart.com from Liberty Mutual Insurance

Liberty Mutual has launched a website http://www.befiresmart.com/. This website has several videos that cover: kitchen fires, smoke detectors, candle safety, holiday fire safety tips, and basic fire prevention. There are educational opportunities and challenges for parents, kids, fire fighters and educators that are easy to use and FREE.

Sharing the Road with Farm Equipment Online Training

The newest National Ag Safety Training Database (NASD) training unit about the interaction of motorists and farm machinery on public roads is now available.

The unit was developed to help motorists understand what to do and what not to do. “Sharing the Road With Agricultural Equipment,” a 25-minute multimedia training program, is available at the National Ag Safety Database Web site, http://www.nasdonline.org.

Major topics in the program include:

characteristics of agricultural equipment that can create hazards for motorists
factors that affect motor vehicle stopping distance
slow-moving vehicle emblems and warning lights on agricultural equipment
the three most common collision scenarios
descriptions of actual collisions
the importance of motorist attitude

Without the willingness to slow down, observe, and determine how to proceed safely, any motorist is at risk. Part of that attitude is realizing farmers have the right to move their equipment on public roads, and they only do so because they’re hard at work. The public should view the farmer as someone who has to take his factory to the field and be more patient.

New CDC Rabies Web site for Kids

"Rabies is a disease that affects the brain. It’s usually passed from animal to animal, but it can be passed from animals to people. It’s caused by a virus. A virus is a very tiny germ, and you can only see that germ if you have a special microscope."

Thus begins the answer to the question "What is rabies?" at a new CDC Web site that teaches kids the facts about rabies. The site answers other questions, too, in sections named:

Can bats give you rabies?
How do you know if an animal has rabies?
Sean and the Raccoon
Get the Facts
Warning Signs

http://www.cdc.gov/rabiesandkids/

First Person Stories on Online Video

The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association has several videos posted on-line. Included are people telling first-person stories of what happened to them in order to pass along the safety message to others. Their message is that “Farm Safety is Farming Safely.”

Video clips that can be viewed at http://www.casa-acsa.ca/english/res_video.html.

Safety Glasses vs Street Glasses

There is not a safety professional on this planet that has not had to deal with a worker putting side shields on their street glasses and trying to pass them off as "safety glasses". These days we often get the argument from the worker that the lenses are "plastic and are the same as safety glasses". Trying to explain the difference between the two can be difficult, but I have the answer...a FREE video (.wmv).

This video does an excellent job showing the different forces needed to break glass lenses, plastic lenses, and high impact polycarbonate lenses. Why not make this 3 minute video part of your annual PPE training just so they can see it for their own eyes?

Thanks to Bryan at Safeteng.NET

Home Safety Council Launches New Website

HSC recently unveiled its new, interactive and consumer-friendly Web site. The site includes all of the information, tools and resources you have come to expect from HSC, but has been redesigned to follow a life stage approach. The navigation makes it easy to find safety tools and information to help keep people of all ages safe at home.

Homesafetycouncil.org has also been updated to include interactive quizzes, online forums and a Share Your Story feature where caregivers and safety professionals alike can share their personal experiences and best practices with one another.

Glove Manufacturer Compatibility Charts

Here's are some helpful links to various glove manufacturer's compatibility charts. Be sure to check the chart BEFORE using a glove with a specific chemical

North - http://tinyurl.com/North-Gloves
Showa-Best - http://tinyurl.com/Showa-Best-Gloves
Ansell - http://tinyurl.com/ANSELL-Gloves
Microflex - http://tinyurl.com/Microflex-Gloves
Kimberly Clark - http://tinyurl.com/Kimberly-Clark-Gloves

NOTE: this is not meant to be all inclusive.

Nursing Homes, Manufacturing Establishments Among Nearly 4,000 Worksites on Inspection List Under OSHA's Site-Specific Targeting 2009 Program

WASHINGTON - The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Site-Specific Targeting 2009 (SST-09) program will focus enforcement efforts on nearly 4,000 high-hazard worksites on the agency's list for comprehensive safety inspections. The program helps OSHA direct enforcement resources to workplaces such as manufacturing and nursing homes where the highest rate of injuries and illnesses occur.

Changes to this year's program include dividing the primary list of establishments slated for inspection into three sectors - manufacturing, non-manufacturing, and nursing homes. Rather than using one rate for all establishments, OSHA established minimum injury and illness rates for each group, allowing the agency to inspect even more establishments that exceed the minimum rates specific to that sector. Additionally, some facilities that did not answer an OSHA Data Initiative survey will be added to the inspection list. The agency's intent is to deter employers from not responding to avoid inspection.

"These inspections examine all aspects of a workplace's operations and the effectiveness of its safety and health efforts," said acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Jordan Barab. "The SST program emphasizes to employers the importance of ensuring safe working conditions for workers."

The SST-09 inspection program is based on injury and illness data from the agency's 2008 Data Initiative survey of 80,000 employers, with 40 or more workers, in industries with historically high occupational injury and illness rates. The primary and secondary lists show case rates calculated from the number of days away from work, restricted work activity or job transfer (DART), or a "days away from work injury and illness" (DAFWII) rate.

The primary list includes 3,100 manufacturing establishments with a DART rate of 8 or more, or a DAFWII rate of 6 or more. The 500 non-manufacturing establishments have a DART rate of 15 or more or a DAFWII rate of 13 or more. The remaining 300 establishments are nursing homes and personal care facilities with DART or DAFWII rates of 17 or more or 14 or more, respectively.

The secondary list shows establishments in manufacturing with a DART rate between 6 and 8, or a DAFWII rate between 4 and 13; non-manufacturing with a DART rate between 6 and 15, or a DAFWII rate between 4 and 13; and nursing homes and personal care facilities with DART or DAFWII rates between 15 and 17 or between 11 and 14, respectively.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, OSHA's role is to promote safe and healthful working conditions for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, outreach and education. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Great Safety Inspection Tool

This is a very good collection of safety survey/checklists for shop equipment. They provide excellent pictures with descriptions as to the necessary components of protection for each machine. The following pieces of equipment are included: Drill Press, Pedestal/Bench Grinder, Wood Lathe, Jointer, Metal Lathe, Vertical Mill, Wood Planer, Vertical Belt Sander, Vertical Spindle Sander, Belt/Disc Sander, Vertical Band Saw, Horizontal Band Saw, Abrasive Chop Saw, Panel Saw, Radial Arm Saw, Scroll Saw, Table Saw. See http://www.lovegreen.com/safety_survey.pdf for the document.

Liberty Mutual Publishes Top Ten Injuries

Every year, the Research Institute produces the Liberty Mutual Workplace Safety Index, a report of the leading causes and costs of the most disabling workplace injuries in the United States. The Index combines data derived from various sources, including Liberty Mutual claims, the DOL BLS, and the National Academy of Social Insurance. Researchers, employers, practitioners, and others dedicated to workplace safety use the Index to better focus their research and injury prevention efforts. The top 10 causes of the most disabling workplace injuries in 2006 according to Liberty Mutual are: 1 Overexertion 2. Fall on same level 3. Fall to lower level 4. Bodily reaction (injuries from slipping/tripping without falling) 5. Struck by object 6. Struck against object 7. Highway incidents 8. Caught in/compressed by 9. Repetitive motion 10. Assaults/violent acts.

According to this year’s Index, the top 10 injury event categories produced 87.9 percent of the total cost burden of disabling workplace injuries in 2006 – the most recent year for which data were available. In keeping with prior years, overexertion maintained its ranking as the leading cause of occupational injuries. This event category, which includes injuries related to lifting, pushing, pulling, holding, carrying, or throwing, accounted for more than one-quarter of the overall national burden (25.7%), and produced $12.4 billion in direct costs to business. Fall on same level events ranked second as a leading cause of disabling injury, generating direct costs of $6.4 billion and accounting for 13.3 percent of the injury burden. Fall to lower level held the third-place ranking with $5.3 billion in direct costs, and 10.8 percent of the total injury burden. Ranked fourth was bodily reaction, which includes injuries resulting from an incident of free bodily motion (such as bending, climbing, reaching, standing, sitting, or slipping or tripping without falling). Injuries in this category comprised 10 percent of the total injury burden at $4.8 billion. Struck by object maintained its fifth place ranking, accounting for 8.9 percent of the total injury cost burden at $4.3 billion. The remaining five injury event categories (struck against object, highway incidents, caught in /compressed by, repetitive motion, and assaults and violent acts) together accounted for less than 20 percent of the direct cost of disabling injuries.

The Center for Injury Epidemiology (CIE) conducts original epidemiological research to examine occupational injury risk factors and to better understand the burden of workplace injury. Through injury data analysis and field studies, CIE research scientists seek to better understand the causes and distribution of work-related injuries. Study findings help to focus occupational safety research efforts and identify and develop promising design and analytical methods.

Click here to view the Study.

Fire.gov Website Expanded

The FIRE.GOV website has been expanded to provide training materials, videos, fire reconstructions, and research reports that may be of interest to the fire service. The FIRE.GOV electronic newsletter will continue to be an important part of the website. www.fire.gov

Dangers of Texting While Driving

Just how distracting is it to send text messages while driving? Try your skills online. The New York Times developed a game to show what happens when typical driving distractions are combined with trying to send text messages. Click here to try it out. When you’re done, you’ll see how much slower your reaction time was while texting compared to the average driver. Note: Regardless of your results, don’t attempt to text while driving.

FREE Safety Training on Compressed Gas Cylinders

Air Liquide periodically features Webinars on topics such as gas handling safety, gas delivery equipment, and other information related to the specialty and industrial cylinder gas industry. Click Here to access pre-recorded sessions:

Webinar 1 - Cylinder Gas Handling Safety, Part 1
Webinar 2 - Designing a High-Purity Gas Delivery System
Webinar 3 - Cylinder Gas Handling Safety, Part 2

CDC Injury Research Agenda

The CDC Injury Research Agenda is a blueprint to prevent injuries and their resulting disabilities, deaths, and costs and will guide research in seven key areas of injury prevention and control: at home and in the community; sports, recreation, and exercise; transportation; intimate partner violence, sexual violence, and child maltreatment; suicidal behavior; youth violence; and acute care, disability, and rehabilitation— because progress in controlling injuries is inextricably linked to the nation’s ability to treat the injured and help them recover.

The agenda identifies CDC’s highest priorities for each area—those research issues that CDC must address to fulfill its public health responsibilities. This CDC Injury Research Agenda describes the Injury Center’s research needs and priorities for 2009–2018. The initial research agenda was published in 2002 to guide research through 2007, and it has been invaluable in directing research efforts at the Injury Center. Over the past year, they updated and revised the agenda, reviewing research accomplishments to date and progress toward achieving the goals outlined in the original agenda. See http://tinyurl.com/lbemwl for more information.

H1N1 – Swine Flu Information Page

In order to communicate pertinent information to our members, we have created a Swine Flu information page. If you’d like to share information with other members about Swine Flu, please send it to heather.earl@disney.com.

Free Safety Powerpoints

Georgia Tech has posted dozens of free safety powerpoints on their website here: http://www.oshainfo.gatech.edu/powerpoint.html. Note the disclaimer: “All of the PowerPoint presentations on this page are the copyrighted property of the Georgia Tech Applied Research Corporation. These presentations may be used in education and training if credit is given to Georgia Tech as the developer and owner. Georgia Tech's 21D OSHA Consultation Program cannot guarantee: 1) that the presentations linked to this page are up to date; 2) reflect all requirements of a particular OSHA standard; and/or 3) represent the requirements within state plan states.”

CSB Video Urges Preparation for Potential Accidents

The Chemical Safety Board on June 10 released a safety video that urges emergency responders, workplaces and communities to work together more closely to prepare for potential chemical accidents. The video uses computer animations, interviews and news footage to depict a series of chemical accidents that illustrate the need for effective training, communications and community planning, CSB said. Accidents highlighted in the video include an allyl alcohol toxic chemical release, a vapor explosion, propane explosions, chlorine releases and reactive chemical explosions.

Occupational Health and Safety makes the top 10 career trends

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians is expected to increase 9 percent during the 2006-16 decade. Emergency preparedness will continue to increase in importance, creating demand for these workers. More specialists will be needed to cope with technological advances in safety equipment and threats, changing regulations, and increasing public expectations. In private industry, employment growth will reflect overall business growth and continuing self-enforcement of government and company regulations and policies. Click Here for more on the survey.

CSB Launches Redesigned Agency Website and Releases New Video

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) unveiled a redesigned website, www.csb.gov that includes imbedded flash videos, a photo gallery, and a new accident news feed. The redesigned home page features a newly released 14-minute video, “About the CSB,” describing the agency’s investigations, recommendations, and outreach programs. The new video includes interviews with CSB Chairman John Bresland, CSB managers and staff, and outside stakeholders together with footage of chemical accidents, investigative activities, and hearings. The new website provides easier access to investigation information, including the ability to download high-resolution photos from CSB investigations, and an improved search capability. The CSB’s widely viewed safety videos and safety messages are embedded throughout the site.

Chairman Bresland said, “The CSB strives to be a leader in the online communication of safety information and recommendations. The web site redesign reflects our ongoing commitment to effective outreach to businesses, workers, and communities who share our goal of preventing chemical accidents and saving lives.” The new www.csb.gov homepage includes an improved news feed of recent chemical accidents throughout the country as well as direct access to the CSB’s most frequently viewed safety videos. “The CSB’s new website has been an extensive undertaking,” said Public Affairs Specialist Hillary Cohen, who led the year-long redesign project. “Our objective is make access to vital safety information as easy as possible for thousands of stakeholders and web visitors.”

Goodwill (Harwood Grantee) Offers Free Safety and Health Training

Goodwill Industries International, an OSHA Susan Harwood Training Grant Program recipient, is offering free, online and in-person training to help organizations design a safety and health management system. To manage risk most effectively, organizations need comprehensive safety programs. Thanks to a grant from the Occupational Safety Health Administration, Goodwill Industries International is now providing free safety and health training to the public. Take part in a series of online courses to learn how to create a safety health management system – the foundation of a workplace safety program. To participate, you must work for an organization with less than 750 employees and be covered under the OSHA Act. Use Adobe Connect Pro, a web-based meeting tool, to take five lessons introducing the core elements of a safety health management system. On the scheduled course days, most lessons will be taught at 10 a.m. EDT and 2 p.m. EDT to offer the most flexibility. Visit Goodwill's Web site for course details.

Info Search and Web 2.0 Coffee Break Training: Exploring Invisible Web Resources Part 1

It's hard to imagine that a search engine returning many thousands of hits on a topic you’re exploring might not actually have access to all that’s out there on the Web. Experts estimate that actually some 80 percent of authoritative content on the Web is invisible to search engines. The Invisible or Deep Web is many times larger, in fact, than the "surface Web" we have access to via search engines like Google. To better grasp what we mean by the term "Invisible Web," let’s first consider what is visible. Download Exploring Invisible Web Resources Part 1 (PDF, 199 Kb)

FREE Transportation Training

Six different training modules on transportation safety are avaiable, made possible through a grant from federal OSHA. These Power Point modules contain information on a wide variety of transportation safety concerns, including a learning exercise at the end of the modules. Each module has a corresponding fact sheet that can be used as a handout during training. The module topics include:

Module 1 - Transportation Safety Overview Module 2 - Accident Prevention I Module 3 - Accident Prevention II Module 4 - Defensive Driving Module 5 - Safe Driving Program Module 6 - Commercial Driver Safety

To access the free presentations, simply click on the module in which you are interested. Free fact sheets to accompany training. See http://www.employersinc.com/content.aspx?cid=678.

Free Chlorine Safety Pamphlets

In an effort to promote safety stewardship among the chlor-alkali industry, The Chlorine Institute has decided to provide free download access to pamphlets that were previously available for sale only in the bookstore section of the website. These pamphlets are available to the public and each user must complete a short survey to access and download the publications. The data gathered from this survey will assist the Chlorine Institute in determining the success of providing free safety information to users throughout the chlor-alkali industry.

Performance and Program Standards for EHS Auditing

The updated BEAC Performance and Program Standards for the Professional Practice of Environmental, Health and Safety Auditing will soon be ready for delivery. BEAC members receive one complimentary copy. All others can purchase a copy for a nominal fee. Please complete the order form here with the format you prefer (Perfect Bound Book, Coil Bound Book, Compact Disk, PDF download).

Free Subscription to National Safety Council Magazine

You can get a free subscription to the National Safety Council's Monthly magazine. Go to http://www.submag.com/sub/sh?pk=ehscc and register.

Paper Offers Tips on Skylight Fall Protection

The Skylight Council of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association released a position paper (.pdf file) providing suggestions for preventing falls through roof openings. Tips from the Schaumburg, IL-based group include:

Limit roof access to construction or maintenance professionals.
Provide proper roof safety training that includes communicating all potential roof hazards to workers.
Place signage at all roof access points addressing roof safety and dangers.

Free ANSI Standard – Fall Protection Definitions

ANSI offers a free download of ANSI/ASSE Z359.0-2007 Definitions and Nomenclature Used for Fall Protection and Fall Arrest. You can download this standard at the link below.

Download (pdf)

Free Gas/Ethanol Fire Safety Video

The Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) is comprised of major organizations involved with alternative fuels, scientific testing, bulk fuel distribution and storage as well with first responders and key fire service organizations. The coalition was formed to look at emergency response issues associated with bulk distribution and storage of ethanol-blended fuels. The EERC have jointly produced a video documenting Ethanol Firefighting Foam test results. Click for more details on the test: http://www.dtnethanolcenter.com/index.cfm?show=10&mid=62

Free Machine Guarding Tool – “Gotcha Stick”

Based on OSHA data, Omron STI's free "Gotcha Stick" safe distance measurement tool provides a quick and easy way of testing and verifying that openings in any hard-guards will not allow the point-of-operation on a hazardous machine to be accessed by the operator. It includes both metric and English measurements, and its three-segment configuration makes it easy to carry. See http://www.sti.com/insurance to order and for more free machine guarding tools and safety videos.

Emergency Preparedness Videos in American Sign Language

The Anderson County (Texas) Medical Reserve Corps has two videos (which can be viewed on the site or downloaded) that can help the deaf develop an emergency preparedness kit and necessary supplies. http://www.andersoncountymrccom/asl.html

Handy Hurricane Season Web Sites

Here are a handful of hurricane preparedness tools:

Central Florida ASSE Yahoo Group

You asked, we answered! Chapter members have asked for a forum to post questions, comments and other pertinent information. Do you have a burning safety question and want feedback from your peers? Want to post a training session for all members to see? Have a comment about legislative affairs affecting the profession? Want to share a great idea, photo or link? We now have a forum for you - the Central Florida ASSE Yahoo Group. To subscribe, send a message to centralfloridaasse-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

OSHA and The Business Case For Safety

OSHA has posted a new powerpoint presentation website this week. The presentation highlights safety as a business priority as opposed to safety for the purpose of OSHA compliance and is the result of an OSHA Alliance. Click here for the presentation.

Africanized Honey Bees (AHB) Emergency Response Training

The presence of Africanized honey bees (AHB) in at least eight U.S. states has challenged Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations in some jurisdictions to create training materials and institute response plans to protect personnel, the foremost of ESS critical infrastructures. Considering this development, the Emergency Management and Response—Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) includes in this article links to training materials meant to help ESS departments and agencies prepare for this menace.

Africanized honey bees (also known as "killer bees") are hybrids of the African honey bee with various European honey bees. As of 2002, they began their spread from Brazil, eventually arriving in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Florida, Southwest Arkansas, New Orleans, California, and Oklahoma. They have been seen as far as Kansas City, Missouri, although they are more commonly found farther to the south. The Africanized bees are more likely than European bees to attack a perceived threat and attack relentlessly in larger numbers, e.g., 50,000 Africanized bees versus 200 European bees might attack if their hive is upset. The venom of Africanized honey bees is no more potent than that of European honey bees, but the vastly greater number of stings causes more deaths.

After responding to a number of attacks by AHBs, members of the Kissimmee Fire Department in Osceola County, Florida, were issued hoods or "sting shields" to wear with their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The bees, which are attracted to carbon dioxide, were lighting on responders' faces and crawling under their helmets. Personnel also learned that lights and sirens on apparatus and vehicles can attract the bees, so they turn them off as they near an incident scene. If it is necessary to perform a rescue, victims are sprayed with Class A foam to suffocate the bees because the application of water alone causes the bees to relocate only momentarily.

Working with Dr. William Kern of the University of Florida, the Osceola County Emergency Services Department created AHB awareness and emergency response PowerPoint presentations and an AHB Standard Operating Guideline (SOG). To assist ESS personnel across the country, the department agreed to share these training materials as well as an mpeg (movie file) of a stinging AHB and stinging European honey bee. The training materials can be accessed at:

Lt. David Langston of the Osceola County Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services Training Branch, who assisted in developing the training materials, can be contacted at dlan3@osceola.org. The EMR-ISAC also appreciates the input of Lt. Joan Robinson, EMS Coordinator, Kissimmee Fire Department.

National Fire Academy Command and Control Online Course

The U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) is pleased to announce the release of its newest online course, Command & Control Decision Making at Multiple Alarm Incidents Self Study (Q297). In early 2007, efforts began to redesign several of the NFA’s resident courses using a blended learning format, whereby a portion of the newly revised course is available online. One of the first courses available under this new format is the Command & Control Decision Making at Multi-Alarm Incidents (R297) course. This new self study course is the precourse assignment for the residential R297 course; however, anyone interested can enroll in the course. “We are pleased to make this course available not only to the fire and emergency services, but to the general public as well,” said U.S. Fire Administrator Greg Cade. “This particular course serves to broaden the student’s knowledge and understanding of the use and significance of the Incident Command System.” This course and additional online courses are available through the NFA’s online training site, NFA Online at www.nfaonline.dhs.gov. Students who successfully complete the courses have instant access to their NFA certificate of completion and transcript. Additional information on the USFA and the NFA is available at www.usfa.dhs.gov.

NIOSH Offers High School Curriculum in Workplace

According to NIOSH, working teens, 16- to 19-years old, are injured or killed on the job in disproportionately high numbers. As a rule, they receive little or no formal safety education and training, either in school or on the job. To fill this gap, NIOSH offers a new high school curriculum, "Youth@Work: Talking Safety," designed especially for young workers.

The curriculum is available to schools at no charge from NIOSH. Materials include a course booklet, a PowerPoint teaching presentation and overheads for teachers, student handouts, and an informational video. The curriculum is customized for each state and Puerto Rico to reflect state-specific rules and regulations for preventing work-related injuries among young workers. Materials can be downloaded from the NIOSH web page at www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/. For all of the references and more information go to: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/upd-10-15-07.html.

NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace Guides For Sale!

At the October meeting (Topic: Arc Flash Protection), several members expressed interest in purchasing the NFPA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace (2004 Edition) guides through our chapter. The chapter has purchased 12 of these guides and they are now available to chapter members for $45. To order one, please contact Jami Phillips, come to the November meeting, or use our Paypal link to order and pay for the book.

Pay Online with Paypal!

Contact Information

If you are an ASSE member and you are not receiving regular e-mails from the Central Florida Chapter, your e-mail address may not be updated with ASSE Society Headquarters. We keep in contact with you via the chapter rosters on file with Society Headquarters. Please check your info and update it by following these steps:

Go to www.asse.org.
Click on “address changes” on the left side of the home page.
Log in with your member ID and password. Your password is typically your last name, unless you’ve changed it.
A change of address request form will pop up.
Check your info and update as needed.
Click the "submit" button at the bottom of the page.

Free Design for Safety Course

ASSE member John Mrozczyk has been leading ASSE's involvement with OSHA's Design for Safety Workgroup, a very positive outcome of ASSE's Alliance with OSHA. With John’s leadership, the workgroup created a free 2-4 hour course developed that is now available on ASSE’s website. This could be a great idea for a chapter meeting, John has suggested. You can find the course at (DfCS) 2 to 4 Hour Course (pdf) on ASSE’s government affairs page, and more information about OSHA’s efforts in this area at Design for Construction Safety Website. Below is OSHA’s information on the project. Thanks to John for his generous leadership on this issue.

John is also helping shape NIOSH’s by-invitation Prevention Through Design (PtD) Workshop NIOSH will hold July 9-11, 2007 in Washington, DC. Supporting the Workshop are ASSE, the National Safety Council, ORC Worldwide, and OSHA are NIOSH. The PtD Workshop marks the launch of NIOSH’s PtD National Initiative. Click here for more information.

Subscribe to centralfloridaasse

Powered by finance.groups.yahoo.com